Instead of conventional therapy sessions, many people in Delhi are using music to deal with chronic conditions.

AFTER COMPLETING her graduation in Psychology (Hons) from Delhi University, 21-yearold Yashmita was pursuing her masters in the same, when the need to pursue a career in anything related to music, deemed as a "hobby" by her parents, made her drop off. She then did a one-year course in music therapy, and is now working as a music therapist, which is apparently in demand in the Capital these days. "For me, it was the simple amalgamation of something I was passionate about - music - and the only subject I've ever liked - Psychology. And people in India, especially in metros like Delhi, are becoming very open to the idea of asking for help and going for therapy. So, it's a field with a lot of scope and growth, and all for the better," she says, adding that the money earned is satisfactory as well.

The conjunction of traditional psychopharmacological (psychiatric) and psychotherapeutic treatments, music therapy is beneficial for most neuropsychological, behavioural and cognitive conditions. In the last decade, music therapy has come up as the chosen type of therapy among many in urban cities. Stating that music has been used as a vehicle for mental well-being for many centuries, Dr Achal Bhagat, senior consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist, who has been practising in Delhi since 1995 and is the founder of Saarthak is a group of mental health organisations, says, "Our brain responds to the rhythm of music even before we are born as there's a physiological response to music. So, music therapy affects areas of the brain, including the regions involved in emotion, cognition, sensation, and movement. Music acts as a vehicle for communication. The engaging nature of music and the diversity of music forms make it the unique language for people to identify with. It allows one to put one's difficult experiences in perspective as well as learn to be mindful of patterns of one's behaviours and thoughts."

There are two ways of using music in a therapy. One is to use music in a therapeutic relationship to energise and enable people living with psychological and developmental difficulties and at other times it could be used as structured therapeutic process. Dr TV Sairam, president of Nada Centre for Music Therapy, Delhi, points out that music therapy isn't meant for all types of problems and medical situations, and is primarily for treating mental deficiencies - those who are depressed, addicted, or are suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or autism. Explaining that the concept of music therapy was derived during the World War era, when soldiers listened to music to stay in their wits, Dr Sairam says, "A lot of research is being done to link autism and music. The simple act of listening to music has an impact of a person's mood, even if it's temporary. It also works well with visually impaired people, as they can perceive the tempo and pitch better. It also works helps pre and post surgery. We also work with traumatised people and tsunami victims. It works 99 per cent of the time. But, it's a complimentary medicine, and can go with allopathy, etc. Music therapy takes care of the mind, while the medication takes care of the body, It's seen to work wonders in cancer patients as well."

All genres of music have equal therapeutic effect because they are pre-planned, organised sounds. Photo: Mail Today

Kamna Chibber, Psychologist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, adds, "There is no specific type of music which has been linked to specific conditions. Music therapy is the utilisation of the scale, pitch, tempo and pulse of the music to make it helpful." Explains Dr Sairam, "All genres of music have equal therapeutic effect because they are preplanned organised sounds." Pointing out that music therapy isn't just meant for those who know music or like music, but for anyone who wants to participate in it, Dr Bhagat says, "Music therapy may be receptive or active. Receptive Music therapy means listening to music and active therapy means playing, creating or writing music. What works is the effective therapeutic relationship formed with the therapist. The nature of music or the genre of music does determine the process."

The Nada Centre for Music Therapy, Delhi. has a nine-month music therapy course, and has so far trained 200 therapists. "We get a lot of musicians, psychologists, doctors and physiotherapists. They usually come in with the belief that combining music makes the patient more receptive," says Dr Sairam.